Passengers on Southern and Gatwick Express have been warned to expect services to be severely disrupted tomorrow, Thursday 15 December, following today’s industrial action.

Southern Passenger Services Director Angie Doll said: "We will be working hard to run as many services as possible tomorrow, but regrettably I have to warn passengers that services will be severely impacted, with reductions and cancellations across all routes.

“With today’s strike ending at midnight, despite our best efforts, some trains and crew will still not be in position for tomorrow’s service; and the overtime ban will continue to have a serious impact."

The train operator is advising passengers to check the Southern website (www.southernrailway.com) before they travel on the day.

On Friday, 16 December, when ASLEF drivers will again be on strike, there will be no Southern services and Gatwick Express will run every half an hour, instead of every 15 minutes, while Thameslink will run a normal timetable. Passengers are advised not to travel on Friday.

Conservative Tim Loughton, East Worthing and Shoreham MP, has asked for an assurance everything will be done to end a "nonsense of a strike" and "give our constituents their lives back".

At Prime Minister's Questions, Theresa May agreed that it was an "appalling strike" and suggested that Jeremy Corbyn should call Aslef, who donate to Labour, and tell them to call the "strike off immediately".

Conservative Tim Loughton, East Worthing and Shoreham MP, has asked for an assurance everything will be done to end a "nonsense of a strike" and "give our constituents their lives back".

At Prime Minister's Questions, Theresa May agreed that it was an "appalling strike" and suggested that Jeremy Corbyn should call Aslef, who donate to Labour MPs, and tell them to call the "strike off immediately"

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Transport union leader Mick Cash has been barred from taking part in peace talks on the Southern Railway dispute at Acas.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union leader had been due to join talks with officials from Southern to seek a resolution in a bitter dispute over driver-only trains.

Mr Cash said that the company had "refused" him access to the talks, which also involved the Aslef union. He branded their behaviour as "absolutely disgraceful" and "counter-productive" today.

RMT is furious at the complete contempt that has been shown to us by Southern Rail this morning...Our members were expecting discussions to take place today and instead we have had the door slammed in our faces.

– Mick Cash

Southern's parent company earlier today said that they had offered to meet Mr Cash "later today" over the dispute.

A planned strike went ahead despite the talks, with another 24-hour stoppage planned on Friday, and a week-long walkout planned in the new year.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has refused to rule out taking action to prevent future stoppages like the one which brought all Southern Railway services to a halt.

All lines run by Southern's parent company, Govia Thameslink Railway, were bottom of the list for the same period (Southern Metro, Great Northern, Gatwick Express, Southern Mainline and Coast and Thameslink), with between 23.1% and 36.7% of trains arriving late at their destinations. Source: Network Rail, Office of Road and Rail.